Hello internet universe. How are you? Is it okay to personify you? Maybe that's a sign of my quickly deteriorating mental capabilities. Probably.
I have been having a horrible time getting into this semester; I even got a bad grade on a paper. I won't elaborate, but just know...this is unacceptable. I have been skipping classes for no other reason except that I would rather be on the couch cuddling with my kitties and reading a book of my choosing. Critical thinking is so overrated. Let's hope this newfound belief doesn't f**k up my GPA.
I am just not *here*. You know? Not at all. I am somewhere else...sometime else. I am on Spring Break on another continent. I am summer break in Chicago in a studio apartment with nothing but books and a sleeping bag. I am clearly backpacking in Europe. Clearly.
But I'm not. I'm here. Totally disjointed, dislodged...it's really rather Vonnegut. Or maybe more like, LOST.
Yeah, it's just like LOST.
Goodness, I love that show. The premiere was epic.
Thursday, January 28
My passport came in the mail today!
I'm that much closer to seeing the world...
I'm sending extra, extra prayers that I get accepted to the South Korea Program over Spring Break.
Like, mega extra.
Wednesday, January 27
Oh...dearest me. I really do love our Boston Terrier. She is so much fun.
Been feeling unbearably unmotivated. It's beyond pathetic really. Sigh.
1.) Day Planner...clipped to the appropriate day with important papers hanging out (including my paperwork to file for graduation - less than four months!) 2.) Tide Pen...necessary for clumsy gals like me. 3.) Tangled headphones 4.) iPod 5.) Kleenex 6.) Checkbook...featuring a cuddly kitty design 7.) Small moleskine notebook 8.) Strawberry lip balm 9.) Cell phone...it's purple and gets the job done, but I'm dreaming of a iPhone for graduation. 10.) Variety of pens and highlighters 11.) Post it notes with a touch of irony 12.) Wallet...simple with a classic vintage touch. 13.) Glasses cleaning cloth 14.) Hand sanitizer...Sweet Pea from Bath and Body Works 15.) Silly putty...for when I'm feeling anxious in lines or class. 16.) Tylenol 17.) Eye drops 18.) A book, this week it's Sherman Alexie's collection of short stories The Long Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, which I highly recommend. It takes place only 30 minutes from where I grew up, so it has a soft spot in my heart. 19.) New mittens that I made this weekend out of two old sweaters plus fabric dye and my sewing machine. I really like them. Here's a close up:
I used this tutorial from One Pearl Button with a few changes. I wanted mine to be cuffed and with a crochet flower embellishment from another sweater.
Tonight I'm writing an essay about Poe and Hawthorne's theory of short stories. Oh, dear me.
We had the most laziest weekend ever; I think we spent about 80% of it in bed, but I think that's okay sometimes. We did manage to make a big, delicious breakfast on Sunday. It's my favorite.
We have been watching LA Ink on Netflix - OMG, I am going crazy with desire for a needle on my skin. It's just difficult for me, because I do want to have a career at a University. Sigh. But...
I can't help but really love these cuffs: They are to die for. I think a doily design a bit higher up would be fabulous. (Source: Ms. Reed's Flickr)
Little wardrobe remix...what I wore yesterday. Dress was thrifted and hemmed, cardigan is from Urban and the tights are from the Gap.
Yesterday I spent a lot of time at the library filling out applications for a cultural exchange program over Spring Break to South Korea and many more for summer undergraduate research programs (University of Arizona, University of Michigan, University of Chicago, Purdue University, Columbia University and Stanford University)...*fingers crossed*
I also went to the undergraduate art juried exhibition at the Ridenbaugh gallery last night, and guess what?! Brad won FIRST place! He is so amazing. I am so proud of him. It was too cool!
After the show, Lindsey and Ashley came over for margaritas and mario party. It was epically awesome.
That's pretty much all that is new! Classes seem pretty neat-o so far. I think I'm going to survive and graduate and be a really magical adult.
This has got to be my favorite comedy of all time. I could watch it over and over; good thing I got the DVD for Christmas!
Side note: White Hot Truth never disappoints. Danielle LaPorte's most recent interview with Ronna Detrick about Faith and Feminism is life-changing. I need to do some free-writing on this topic...there is so much bottled up and whirling around and begging to be said. It shocks (bothers?) me that more people don't wrestle with this...maybe they do, but it's just inappropriate to talk about publicly. Anyways, here's a taste:
1. Let's start with a big one: how do you define feminism?
I define feminism as more of a personal characteristic than a political or social statement. It's who I am, how I am, and yes, certainly what I am. It's an honoring of the strength, power, and inherent worth in women. It's a naming of the places in which those realities aren't honored. It's a way of being that says, "I will not be silenced; I will live out loud. I will not edit or censor myself; I will tell the truth. I will not be safe; I will be dangerous, provocative, risky, and bold."
2. Another whopper of a question - because you're a massive spirit, Ms. Ronna, what's FAITH got to do with FEMINISM?
Mmmm. A tough one. Much I don't know. Lots of answers I don't have. But here's what I do know: the two are not mutually exclusive. Faith, whether it be in ourselves, God, Goddess, Buddha, Mohammad, or the powers of the Universe, is a potent and beautiful thing. It enables hope. It invites desire. It softens and strengthens and sings. As a feminist I want to be able to embrace and embolden every aspect of my life and my world. I want to be able to believe deeply and speak definitively. I want to be able to hope fervently and work my ass off for change. I want to have faith in "truths" beyond myself and be an agent in creating the realities I desire and deserve for myself and those I love. Maybe another way to say it is that I am a feminist with faith; indeed, I must have faith. It's sometimes all that enables me to hope, believe, and persevere!!!
3. What was the dumbest thing that you used to believe in?
I love this question! I used to believe that saving people's souls mattered. Now I don't. My understanding of theology has dramatically changed over the years and, in turn, my understanding of God's heart. The process of people coming to believe in things greater than themselves is not mine to coerce, demand, or enforce. So, you won't see me handing out tracts, repeating any spiritual laws, or quoting Scripture to convince you of one damn thing. If I'm going to be an "evangelist" at all, it's going to be for great, honest, and provocative conversation. That's salvation at its finest, baby!
Last night I made this Breakfast at Tiffany's inspired Sleeping Mask. I had made a very similar one for our sister for Christmas too (another Audrey admirer), but I just had to have one too - in hopes of reaching my New Year's Resolution of a regular and decent sleep schedule. I did the embroidery by hand, and it wasn't too bad, but it was definitely the hardest sewing project I have taken on thus far. It was mega hard to sew the satin-like fabric and use batting. I also may have forgot to attach the elastic in on the inside, but I am definitely learning. I made do and sewed it under the gold trim (also a biotch to sew). No need to see closer details. Ha, ha. Anyways, I used this pattern I found on Craftster.
Alright. I have a confession crafty friends. I don't knit, but I can make knitted things. How you ask?! The Knifty Knitter Loom by Provo Craft - it is seriously magical. I picked up my rectangular one from Joanns with a 40% coupon (yes - I'm one of those types who refuse to buy anything from Joanns or Michaels without printing a coupon first). I think it was like $4 or something equally awesome like that.
Anyways, obviously you don't have as much freedom with just two needles, but it's also a lot less complicated. I taught myself the ropes within 10 minutes, and I'm horribly uncoordinated. Using it, I was able to knit scarves, cowls, neckwarmers and bows for Christmas gifts this year! So easy! The bows take 5-10 minutes. This morning I whipped one up for Gertrude's collar.
All you do is "loom" a small rectangle and then take a piece of yarn, twist it around the middle and then tie it. You can then attach it to whatever you want - I did a few on headbands for Christmas gifts. I like the way the thick yarn looks, but it's a bit too heavy for just a clip - especially if you suffer from thin hair like me, so I like them on headbands better.
Please also note that Gertrude has painted red nails - ha, ha. Our sister Stevie did that when we were out of town. She started beauty school this week; suffice to say, she is going to be brilliant at it.
I'm savoring my last day of winter break with crafts, bubble baths and yoga...mhmmm.....
Been watching the new season of Big Love (excellent and ever so fascinating), playing with Gertrude and playing Super Mario Brothers on the Wii. Pretty much lovely days.
My last semester at the U of I starts Wednesday! I think it's going to be a good semester...no early classes or classes I don't know what to expect.
Crafting for Christmas kind of burned me out, but I'm hoping to spend some time tomorrow night getting creative. Last month I learned to make and bind leather journals, knit scarves and cowls, make knitted bows, make homemade lavender body scrub and melt old records into bowls. I stupidly forgot to take pictures before wrapping, but I would like to remake some of the projects soon to show that even the most impatient, sloppy and silliest souls can make pretty crafts! I also really want to make a pretty art journal about Salvation Mountain and Slab City.
If only my to-do list of endless errands would dwindle...
My dear husband's birthday was this week; he's now 21! We went out to dinner and drinks and have been hanging out with friends celebrating. I even made him an Into the Wild themed cake - as morbid as that is. It was the only bus I could find in town, but I think he still really liked it, which is good, because I really like him.
I kind of really want to live here. The wanderer in my heart cried for joy when I saw the sign.
I often feel like I "forced" myself to stay in Idaho, because it was the sensible thing to do. And it was. I feel like I have received a quality education without going in to an obscene amount of debt. Education comes first for me, but I can't wait until I can chase my next dreams.
My soul is begging to make a run for it, and Slab City seems like such a lovely destination.
